It’s already too late.
It’s inevitable that I look strange to others.
I must seem like someone who’s done something wrong.
Because I actually am.
[8 hours 5 minutes]
The decline of time is too steep.
It’s because I’ve created two weapons.
I don’t know how to get rid of this.
It’s because of the military drug.
A drug made to fight the enemy.
I wonder who the enemy is.
“Just disappear, damn it.”
Han Si-Hoo says something.
But I can’t hear it.
My heartbeat is louder.
I can’t see the frozen figure of Lena.
Where has she vanished to?
I did tell her to disappear.
But that’s because of the sword in my hand.
I think again.
Who is the enemy?
It’s not the Academy students.
They are talents aiming to become heroes at the Academy.
I want to be a hero too.
I just need to kill the villains and monsters.
It’s enough to prove it.
I’m on your side too.
I have to change the direction of my sword.
No one who attacks the protagonist’s party ends well.
Let’s kill the villain.
Where could the villain be?
[7 hours 33 minutes]
The previous incident comes to mind.
The drug administered by the doctor.
That feeling of emotions amplified to an unusual degree.
That’s what it is.
It’s a similar type of drug.
The situation is familiar, but this time I’m not attacking.
Have I gained self-control, or is the drug’s effect weaker?
I thought it was just a simple misunderstanding.
There’s no reason to be angry.
Even before the misunderstanding, I used to break an arm or so.
They said it was to subdue me.
So it’s not strange if a similar situation occurs again.
But this time I have power, so it’s different.
I won’t let anything be taken from me.
But I’ve already lost everything.
I have no friends.
I have no home.
The place I can exist has always been too narrow.
[6 hours 58 minutes]
The drug effect is lacking.
I don’t see the enemies I need to kill.
Where did Lena go?
I must avoid ambushes.
I step back and press my back against a wall.
Her silver hair stands out.
But I can’t see her.
Did she go outside?
But you know.
Being alone with Han Si-Hoo seems to fit well.
Since Seo-Ah used to be in that place.
Is it arrogant to say “instead”?
“Ah.”
I don’t know.
Now, even thinking feels like a luxury.
My instincts are starting to dominate my actions.
[6 hours 22 minutes]
“I don’t know.”
The weapons I created won’t disappear.
They will stay like this until I win a battle.
I can feel it intuitively.
It’s terrifying how the fear is dulling.
[5 hours 55 minutes]
I really need more drugs.
I think the real enemy is the one preventing me from using the drugs.
Who has the drugs?
Han Si-Hoo?
No, Han Si-Hoo is also just getting his drugs.
Lee Yoo-Ram has them.
Then, what.
Let’s just kill him and take them.
Should I go down to the first basement floor?
I didn’t like it from the start.
If the Academy truly wanted to help me, it wouldn’t be like this.
The enemy is Lee Yoo-Ram.
I’ll take care of Yoo-Ram first, and then get more drugs.
And then?
Let’s just raid a drug-making factory.
I believe a way will show itself.
“…Found you.”
I spotted Lee Yoo-Ram coming up the stairs.
In one hand, he’s holding a syringe, and in the other, a bag.
With the weapons I have now, I can’t reach him.
It seems too far to run; he might escape.
–Paaat.-
I stretch the length of the sword like a spear, extending longer than a spear.
[4 hours 36 minutes]
The consumption of time is severe.
But I succeeded in extending the weapon’s length.
A long and sharp thorn reaches towards Lee Yoo-Ram.
Soon it touches his neck—
“[Purification].”
The word echoes clearly.
I don’t know why, but a certain power is mixed with that word, and I hear it well.
It’s one of Han Si-Hoo’s skills.
It’s also a passive skill, but if activated directly, it’s more powerful.
Was it triggered while making contact?
While in contact?
Before I know it, my arm is caught.
“Han Si-Hoo?”
Purification.
What was its effect again?
It feels like something is going to be purified.
Crackle.
The weapon in my hand crumbles like a cookie.
The black magical power shatters and scatters.
[1 hour 21 minutes]
The time feels strange.
“Ugh.”
I have to stop.
Time is dangerous.
Han Si-Hoo must think that Purification is the right thing to do.
To some extent, that’s true.
After all, I stopped trying to attack Lee Yoo-Ram.
But this way, I’ll have problems.
“Don’t.”
I understand.
He must be looking for a way since he failed last time.
But that’s not what’s important.
“Stop, stop that.”
I push Han Si-Hoo away.
But the hand holding me doesn’t loosen.
There’s no hint of hostility towards Han Si-Hoo.
And that’s the problem.
One skill made four hours fly by.
If it continues here, it’s really dangerous.
“It’s fine now. Just don’t.”
[1 hour 14 minutes]
Not yet.
Not yet.
“I’m in my right mind. I wasn’t really going to fight.”
Does he intend to save me?
Is this justice?
I see the shining light of justice.
Han Si-Hoo is preparing his next skill.
That’s how it seems.
“I’m fine, really…”
I say it once more.
My voice has become too weak.
Now it sounds like I can’t even convince myself.
“This skill… isn’t it meant for monsters?”
The light of justice was treating me like a monster.
But I’m still human.
I’m neither a villain nor a monster.
Han Si-Hoo hesitates and then lets go of my hand.
I am a human.
I must be.
I am human.
Aren’t I?
“So, hey, the drugs… just…”
[56 minutes]
I don’t feel human.
I look too miserable.
I don’t want to live like this either.
–Thud.-
Ah.
The drug.
[12 hours 32 minutes]
*
“It’s a mess.”
Lee Yoo-Ram says as he surveys the first floor lobby.
Broken chairs, tables with cut marks.
It’s within expected range.
If he were to use that drug and remain unharmed, that would be the odd part.
Lee Yoo-Ram recalls the military dog that was given the drug.
Seo-Ah overlaps in his mind.
“It’s my fault for letting Seo-Ah meet Lena.”
Han Si-Hoo blames himself.
It must have been an incident triggered by the stimulation of trauma.
Han Si-Hoo still doesn’t properly understand Seo-Ah’s condition.
It was intentional.
“I wonder if such a problem could arise, so I want to place Seo-Ah in a special class.”
“Huh?”
“Just as Seo-Ah was about to attack you last time, I can’t guarantee a similar incident won’t happen again. In a way, it could be seen as isolation…”
That’s a plausible reason.
To some extent, it’s true.
He knew that Seo-Ah would cause trouble.
‘Purification was unexpected. Given her state, does it remove even the magical effects of the drug?’
Lee Yoo-Ram was planning to step in at serious moments.
There were also tranquilizers he had prepared in advance.
However, it was unexpected that Seo-Ah would suddenly aim for Lee Yoo-Ram instead.
The chill of nearly touching the blade at his neck.
If Han Si-Hoo hadn’t moved, Lee Yoo-Ram would have had to subdue Seo-Ah himself.
But being an Academy professor, there must be a way to incapacitate Seo-Ah.
“Here, this is the tranquilizer I used earlier. There’s a syringe, and this is a pill, so if you feel anything weird, just give it to her.”
He hands over the medicine bottle.
This is a path chosen by Seo-Ah herself.
He never intended to give military drugs right away; she wanted it that much.
The plan to start quietly in a special class has just been moved forward a bit.
“Will this cure her…?”
Han Si-Hoo questions.
Seo-Ah’s condition.
Is she in better shape than when she attacked Han Si-Hoo last time?
He believes her words of not wanting to attack are genuine.
Yet she’s still holding a sword.
“It’s not that easy to cure. You have to wait with time. So your role is important.”
The problem will likely become more serious.
He should have run when it was suggested.
Lee Yoo-Ram thinks as he continues.
“Be cautious when meeting people, and if it gets too hard, ask for help. The Academy has methods to manage things directly.”
But that isn’t what Han Si-Hoo wants.
He doesn’t trust the Academy that much.
“I know, you don’t want that, right? It looks like the Academy is holding Seo-Ah hostage. I’m watching over the situation, but… you need to take good care of her.”
Regardless, since the drug supply is from the Academy, Han Si-Hoo can’t rebel against it.
“Yes, thank you.”
“And that thing earlier, Purification, seems to put a burden on Seo-Ah. It might be better not to use it again.”
Lee Yoo-Ram considers whether Han Si-Hoo’s ability will interfere with the development of military drugs.
He decides to note this as an unusual case.
“Yeah. I thought it seemed dangerous for you…”
“Would have been fine if left alone. That much skill is enough. It’s not like she’s an ordinary student.”
A weapon that can extend freely.
In a way, the form of attack has evolved.
When he first met Han Si-Hoo, he just swung a sword.
“Were you with Lena? Then it might be good to let Lena know separately.”
Fewer witnesses is better.
It’s not good if rumors spread too much.
“Oh, I’m here!”
Lena peeks out from behind a pillar.
It seems she was using a stealth skill.
“Yeah. Right. You got the gist of the situation, right? If there’s anything you want to say…”
*
I’m garbage.
Like some monster.
As long as I have drugs, I can manage somehow.
That’s what I wanted to say.
[10 hours 33 minutes]
So, I’m back in the dormitory.
On the bed.
I feel sluggish and powerless.
It’s the tranquilizer, I guess.
It feels good in its own way, but I wonder if it’s really suitable for use on humans.
Given the remaining drug effects, it seems like it can put a person unconsciously for at least a few hours.
“Ugh…”
I made a mess before even getting into the Academy.
I don’t know what I’ve done.
Lee Yoo-Ram wouldn’t say he won’t give me the drugs in anger, right?
It does feel strange to see him putting in the tranquilizer as if he was prepared.
I thought he was a kind person.
“…Ah.”
I finally managed to get up.
I feel something refreshing.
It’s oddly empty.
“Where are my clothes…?”
The bandages have been changed.
Some ointment is applied to where there was an injury.
Even the bruise on my stomach.
“Y-You’re awake?”
It’s not Han Si-Hoo.
It’s Lena, covering her face with a cap, mask, and sunglasses…
Trying to hide her noticeable silver hair by tying it up, but it doesn’t really work.
It seems she was trying to cover up so I wouldn’t recognize her and attack.
But now it’s fine.
The effect of the military drug is minimal.
The tranquilizer is just too strong.
“Oh, I was in the middle of changing the bandage.”
But why is she here?
What sort of conversation did she have with Lee Yoo-Ram?
Where has Han Si-Hoo gone?
“Don’t worry, I’m a friend here to help you!”
Thankful she’s saying this after trying to attack me just a few hours ago.
But I don’t understand why she’s doing this here.
This clearly seems like Han Si-Hoo’s room.
“…Whatever happened before, I’ll help you.”
What’s she talking about?
I don’t understand, maybe because of the tranquilizer.
